I don't think it is now. Maybe the Secret Car Club of America has changed the rules for 2012. That would be a good thing. From what I have Googled it looks like front & rear bars can be changed.
No, starting in 2012 front OR rear bar can be changed. One must be totally stock. Previously only the front could be changed. Reference, p. 18, item 10, November Fastrack News: Substitution, addition, or removal of a single anti-roll bar and supporting hardware (brackets, end links, bushings, etc.) is permitted. http://scca.cdn.racersites.com/prod/assets/11-fastrack-nov.pdf
Has this rule change made it all the way through the process? I found it as a proposal, but not as a rule change. Can anyone point me to a document or site that I can read. What are people going with for Autocross? The 19mm or 22mm? I have an '07S w/LSD and sport suspension.
Yes, this is officially "blessed" by the SCCA for Solo2. You may change EITHER a rear or front swaybar per the Stock Class regulations. I have a 2010 with sport suspension and an LSD. I have been running DS. I would say that the sway-bar will only make you more tail happy than you are already. Without being able to tweak the suspension to compliment the stiffer rear sway you will get more rotation and keep the car a bit flatter but at the cost of net grip from the tires. If you are running on 245 wide R-comps the sway might be in your favor. Otherwise spen your $ elsewhere. Fairly unique to the MINI is the tendancy on relatively equal pressures in the tires they are prone to oversteer with gentle throttle lifts and fast steering inputs (wheel flicks). Yes, in the case that you over drive a turn and don't brake adequately, it will understeer (plow) badly. That is not a needed fix for the car though. That is a driver mod. The HUGE advantage you have over many other FWD cars and even other MINIs is that LSD. It will help you get around harder bends letting you get on throttle a bit sooner and helping you carry more speed and capitalize on the tendancy for oversteer. If you are sticking to a stock class, I'd say that better shocks and/or brake-pads & rotors are a better investment. If you want to move to STX where you can tweak ride height, caster/camber and toe settings... Go for the sway-bars (front and back) because you can adjust to minimze grip-loss and enhance the effectiveness of the sway-bars. :cornut: That's my $0.02 and I'm sure no one else agrees so I overcharged....
Im new to the forum but Ive been autocrossing for about 4 years and im building my R50 for the new STF class. The best bang for the buck in my opinion is the Hotchkis Race 25.5mm hollow rear sway bar for only $150. Its three way adjustable which allows for and increase of 314%/394%/501% over the stock bar. But thats just my $.02.